"leg crushed after a half-ton aluminum sheet fell...."

Work near or under suspended loads is a hazard all workplaces acknowledge. But, still incidents occur. Here is a recent incident  highlighting the hazard of suspended loads.

A serious accident was recorded in (company name), (location omitted), on (the finale week of August 2024). A forklift operator had his leg crushed after a half-ton aluminum sheet fell on him while working in the late morning. The local union held an assembly at the factory, the following day as an act of protest and demands urgent measures to avoid new tragedies.

The accident happened in the machining sector, when the forklift operator was transporting the material. The worker was referred to the local Hospital, and underwent surgery.

The union is investigating the facts and will meet with company today, at 1:30 pm, to clarify the circumstances of the accident and demand that the company adjust its conduct in operations throughout the unit. The factory is a supplier to (airplane manufacturer) and production is on the rise.

The Union received complaints that there is a lack of support and safety protocols, responsibilities of the company, in the operation carried out by the forklift driver.

Assembly

During the assembly held today at the factory, the union leaders expressed solidarity with the worker, who will receive full support from the entity's Health and Legal departments, and demanded the command of the factory.

“Unfortunately, this accident is not an uncommon fact in the working class. Last year, more than 600 thousand work accidents were recorded in (country removed). Thousands of men and women are seriously injured or die while producing wealth for the bosses. We have to fight, permanently, for better working conditions. For our Union, health and safety at work is a priority”, says the director of the union, responsible for the entity’s Health Department.

We pray that the injured worker recovers fully from their injuries.

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